'KEM mother suffers from postpartum depression'

Deepika Parmar, the Dahisar housewife who has been booked for murder after she flung her 45-day-old daughter out of the hospital's bathroom window on Tuesday, is suffering from postpartum depression, psychiatrists from KEM hospital, Parel, have said. Sonal Shukla reports.

Deepika Parmar, the Dahisar housewife who has been booked for murder after she flung her 45-day-old daughter out of the hospital's bathroom window on Tuesday, is suffering from postpartum depression, psychiatrists from KEM hospital, Parel, have said.

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Deepika is undergoing supportive psychotherapy in the same hospital.

Dr Shubhangi Parker, head of psychiatry in KEM, said: "In Deepika's case, it was the continuation of pre-natal depression into postpartum depression. The impact could be severe in vulnerable people. There is a possibility that they will take such a drastic step."

Statistical scientific data suggests 10 to 20 % of women suffer from postpartum depression globally.

Deepika had given birth to premature twins, a girl and a boy. The health of the boy is improving. Dr ND Bhosale, deputy dean of the hospital, said there has been improvement in the boy's breathing pattern and the working of his lungs. "His chest infection is also better now and he is being fed with a tube," he said.

Deepika told doctors that she did not even realise how she took such a step.

Doctors said those suffering from postpartum depression can become impulsive and experience extraordinary anxiety. "Postpartum depression is very common but this is a rare case," Dr Parker said. "If she had received family support at the right time, things would have been different. She needs lot of psychological care right now."

Doctors have also tried to educate her family so that they understand how to help her cope, Dr Parker said.

Deepika will be stable in the next 10 to 12 days but needs psychiatric intervention for at least six months, doctors said.

Deepika and her husband, a tailor, have been struggling financially. "My work has completely stopped for the past two months because I need to be with my wife in the hospital all the time," Manish, Deepika's husband, said. "I am not earning anything. The daily charges for the neo-natal intensive care unit are Rs 200."

He said the hospital has not charged them any money but does not know what he will do in the long run.

He said that talk that his wife did not want a girl child was not true.